UHS to hostan International Conference on Acute Medicine

Sharjah, UAE: University Hospital Sharjah (UHS) has collaborated with the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh for an upcoming conference on Acute Medicine on new guidelines to deal with medical emergencies. The two-day conference,which will take place on October 21st and 22nd, boasts the attendance and speeches of 7 eminent international doctors and 10 highly respected doctors from the UAE. The conference is the first of its kind in the UAE in collaboration with the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh and to date,the registration list has exceeded 250 prominent names in the field.

The conference will provide emergency care and internal medicine providers with medical updates and management strategies on various sub specialties of acute medicine, and address doctors at all career levels including general practitioners, specialists, residents, and trainees.

HE Abdullah Ali Al Mahyan, Chairman of Sharjah Health Authority and Chairman of Board of Trustees, at University Hospital Sharjah said, “Under the visionary leadership of His Highness Sheikh Dr. Sultan bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, member of the Supreme Council and ruler of Sharjah, University Hospital Sharjah continues to pursue international affiliations. Collaborating with the Royal College of Physicians not only reinforces the knowledge of the participants but also provides medical expertise from around the world.”

Commenting on the benefits of the upcoming conference for attendees, Dr Mohamed Seif, Senior Consultant Cardiologist and Head of Internal Medicine at UHS, said, “The therapeutics trategies and updated guidelines that will be discussed during the conference will aid medical staff handling cases in Intensive Care Units,dealing with a wide range of emergency cases.”

“The plenary sessions and diagnostic workshops will provide medical updates and management strategies for individuals working in Internal Medicine, Intensive Care, Emergency Room, Cardiology, Respiratory Diseases, Endocrine and Diabetes, Infectious Disease, Gastroenterology and Neurology,”he continued.
The keynote speaker, Prof Derek Bell, Chair in Acute Medicine and President of the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh, was the first Professor of Acute Medicine within the UK; his experience and insight swill show the attendees how to identify the early warning signs of patients suffering from respiratory illness and effective methods for critical management.

This International Conference on Acute Medicine will be a unique educational experience that seeks active participation from its attendees. State-of-the-art medical updates and management strategies are crucial for addressing medical concerns within the region, specifically, heart and lung disease.
Dr Seif elaborated that the number of acute heart attack cases and cases of heart failure are growing in hospitals as more people are suffering from this debilitating disease. “It is a very a challenging task because the risk factors are prevalent in this region,” warned the cardiologist.
Cardiovascular disease is rampant because significant portions of the population (19 percent) suffer from diabetes, as well as from hypertension or high blood pressure. Unhealthy lifestyle choices such as improper food intake, lack of exercise and smoking add to the risk factors.

Last year, roughly 8000 people were hospitalised across the UAE due to stroke. Since high blood pressure is one of the leading causes of stroke,proper and immediate diagnosis, in addition to management, is critical for stroke patients.

Dr Seif explained that another emergency that will be focused on during the conference is severe bronchial asthma. According to experts, the dust and air quality has cost the UAE millions of work hours as people have to take off time from work and school due to asthma attacks. Furthermore, about 14 percent of the UAE population suffers from asthma, and seasonal attacks are on the rise due to sandstorms, humidity in the air, and poorly maintained air-conditioner units.

The conference, which is designed as a CME (Continuing Medical Education) programme, will also host diagnostic workshops on ECG, X-ray and radiology.